Pro-Kurdish European Parliament group expresses support for Kurdistan referendum

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – A pro-Kurdish group in the European Parliament on Wednesday expressed their support for the Kurdistan Region’s upcoming independence referendum.

In an official statement, the European Friends of Kurdistan in the EU Parliament announced they backed the historic vote scheduled to be held on Sep. 25.

“We are convinced that a strong, democratic, politically inclusive Kurdistan will be a factor for stability in the Middle East,” the statement read.

The pro-Kurdish group, led by British politician Charles Tannock, pointed to the Kurds’ struggle for “freedom and sovereignty” for over a century under consecutive oppressive regimes in Iraq, including the Halabja chemical attack and the Anfal campaign.

The world knows about “the persecution, oppression, and genocide committed against the Kurdish people at the hands of successive regimes in Baghdad,” the European Friends of Kurdistan statement noted.

The pro-Kurdish group urged the European Union to formally back the Kurdish referendum.

“The formal position of the European Union should also include the recognition and respect for the aspirations of the Kurdish people,” the report read.

The EU is concerned the independence vote may lead to further instability in the Middle East and Iraq amid the ongoing war with the Islamic State (IS).

On the other hand, senior Kurdish officials argue an independent Kurdistan would bring stability and peace to the war-torn region.

The report also highlighted the burden carried by the Kurdistan Region since the emergence of IS in Iraq and Syria.

Since 2014, the Region has sheltered over 1.8 million displaced persons and refugees fleeing the militant group while Peshmerga forces continue to fight extremists on the front lines.

“The Kurds have been one of the most effective forces in the war against [IS] and have been making huge sacrifices in blood and treasure defending the civilized world,” the statement said.

Despite overwhelming pressure from the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, as well as neighbors Turkey and Iran, the President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani insists the vote will be held according to schedule.